SPIRIT RAPS EXPLAINED.

Dunstan Times, Issue 3333, 9 August 1926, Page 8

SPIRIT RAPS EXPLAINED.

NEW THEORY BY SIR A. CONAN DOYLE. A theory to account for some of the astonishing phenomena of spiritualism ; s put forward by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the modern apostle of the movement, in a new book, “The History of Spiritualism.” Recent investigations have shown, he says, “that raps are caused by a protrusion from the medium’s person ol a long rod of a substance having certain properties which distinguish it from all other matter. “This substance has been closely examined by the great French, physiologist. Dr Charles Riehct, who has named it ‘ectoplasm.’ These rods are invisible to the eye, partly visible to the sensitive plate, and yet conduct energy in such a fashion as to make sounds and strike blows at a distance.” 11ms the whole puzzle of the tweaked noses, ringing bells, angling tambourines. swaying tables, and dancing crockery that lias racked the brains of thousands of people at seances is explained at a stroke! Sir Arthur asserts that “there is no doubt” of the existence of ectoplasm—as there scarcely can be if a. scientist has examined it. ‘‘What is it,” he asks. ‘‘lt takes shape. Who determines the shape? Is it the mind of the entranced medium? Is it the mind of tho observers? Is it some independent mind?” Sir Arthur thinks that “the most rational opinion seems to be that ectoplasm once formed can be moulded by the mind, and that this mind may, in the simpler eases, bo the mind of the unconscious medium. We forget,” lie adds, ‘‘that we are ourselves spirits, and that a spirit in the body has presumably similar powers to a spirit out of the body.” “The reason why some people sec a ghost and some do not may be that some furnish sufficient ectoplasm for a manifestation, and some do not.” There are various illustrations in the two volumes, including a picture of the late Sir William Crookes, the famous scientist, on one knee beside the prostrate form of Florence Cook, a girl “medium, while he holds aloft a light and gazes at the white-clad “angel” or “spirit” of “Katie King.” the daughter of “John King.?’ John is a presiding spirit at seances, and claims that when he was alive ho was Henry Morgan, the buccaneer, who was pardoned and knighted by Charles 11.. and ended as Governor of Jamaica. Katie King’s spirit was projected by Florence Cook.